While on vacation this past summer, we spent many lazy mornings and some evenings as well sprawled across couches in the house we rented watching the Tour de France. At the same time I was marvelling at the strength and spirit of the riders, Lance and the rest of them, I was following Lance elsewhere as well.
I don't know Jeff Castelaz. I met him once, in a dark club one winter night years and years ago. He was the manager for a band I went to see in a dark club somewhere. His brother introduced me. A few months ago I learned that Jeff's six year old son was battling cancer. I found Jeff's blog. I've linked to it before. Jeff wrote about how Lance (Armstrong) called him up one day to offer support and guidance and vsited the hospital to see Pablo and other children. He talked about how Lance's foundation inspired him to start one in honor of Pablo for Pediatric Cancer research. All of this was turning around in my mind while I watched Lance's wheels circle along the pavement. Cancer. Loss. Survial. Fighting. Love. Loss. Love. Around and around.
I follow Pablo's story. I could say followed, in past tense, because Pablo is no longer with us, but the extroardinary thing is that he is. The spirit of this little boy is remarkable and I really do think it's still here, somewhere. I am choosing to believe that these beautiful children, the Pablos and the Madelines of this world had a light too bright to be contained. That something good can come from something, so, very, inexplicably bad.
September is Children's Cancer Awareness month, as if any parent needs a month to be aware of such a thing. When I first read about Pablo's passing I wished there was something I could do. Today I received word of this.
Please watch, give if you can and share with someone important to you.
